Nokia reveals plans to return to Australian phone market

Nokia has announced its plans to “return to the Australian smartphone market” , with plans to launch its new Lumia 800 handset in the country next month.

However, analysts are claiming that the Finnish phone-maker could struggle to convince Australian consumers to switch from popular platforms, such as Android and iOS, to switch to Microsoft’s Windows Phone software.

Foad Fadaghi, mobility and media analyst at research firm Telsyte, said: “The challenge though … is that, as people get used to a certain platform, whether it’s an iPhone or Android device, it’s difficult for them to move away from it because of the commitment to the applications on that platform.”

However, Fadaghi added that when compared to similar Android devices, Nokia’s Lumia 800 is a “step in the right direction”, and may be able to win-over consumers with its high-end specs. Amongst these features is a 3.7-inch curved AMOLED touchscreen, a 1.4GHz processor, an 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash and fast HSDPA and WiFi connectivity.

It’ll also land in Australia running the latest version of Windows Phone software, equipping the phone with Xbox Live integration and a Live Tile interface. Microsoft has promised that Skype is coming to the platform soon too, ideal for cheap international calls.

The Nokia Lumia 800 will be available in Australia from March, sporting a $699 SIM free price-tag – $100 cheaper than the iPhone 4S. The handset will also be available in a variety of colours